Over the last few years, I have taken several trips to Haiti. Our church has participated in sponsoring an orphanage, and we even started a new 501c3 called the Haitian Children’s Ministry. This ministry is a passion of mine.

I was in Haiti a few weeks ago and was on the campus of Mission of Hope, Haiti. Mission of Hope is a wonderful organization that is doing some tremendous things in that country.

One of the most significant things they do is deliver 93,000 meals every day to children in orphanages and schools. I was able to visit the warehouse where they keep the food and witnessed first hand the children being provided the meals. The sad fact is that there are still 70,000 more children on Mission of Hope’s waiting list. If they had the capacity to distribute more food they would.

When I came back from Haiti, I wanted to be a part of that effort to get these 70,000 kids off the waiting list. We contacted another organization called Numana that works with Mission of Hope to provide a portion of these meals.

On June 3 we are planning a meal packing event with Numana in our community (Old Bridge, NJ) that will generate 20,000 more meals for Mission of Hope. We need to raise $6,000 to make this event a reality. These 20,000 meals will be packaged in 93 boxes. That means each box will cost approximately $65. That is less than what it costs me to take my family to dinner at a nice restaurant. But with this $65, I can feed a family in Haiti for two months.

This is where I ask for your help. If you live in NJ or a bordering state, you are welcome to join us on June 3. I realize that most people reading this will not be able to physically join us, but I ask if you might prayerfully consider helping make this happen by donating to purchase one of the 93 boxes. For every 30 cents donated, one more meal is packed for a child in need.

My hope is that we will be able to package much more the 93 boxes. I am praying that we could at least double that number. But it is 93 boxes that are the minimum we need to make this happen. The number of boxes we can pack is based on the funds we will be able to raise. Again, thank you for your prayerful consideration. God’s blessings.

UPDATE: Due to the overwhelming response and generosity of so many, we have set a new goal of 80,000 meals. We are thrilled to be able to feed even more children. Thank you for your help.

Plan of Action

Volunteer to serve with an organization which is working to positively affect the lives of others.

Be an advocate for others in need. Organize blood drive, food drive, or other type of ministry to help others in need.

Consider participating in a mission trip to serve others.

Reflection

Most of you who are reading this email are blessed. You eat three full meals a day. You have clean drinking water. You have access to quality medical care. But this is not true for many people living in this world. There is much pain and suffering that goes on.

Diseases of poverty cause 14 million deaths each year. These diseases are caused by contaminated water supply, inadequate sanitation, improper medical care, and poor nutrition. So many of these deaths are preventable.

We might wonder: “why doesn’t someone do something about this?” But the question that comes back to us is: “why don’t we do anything about it?”

There are some reasons why we don’t respond to the great need:

Now is not the right time

There is never going to be a good time. There is never going to be enough money. You are never going to be qualified enough. If you are waiting for the perfect time, you will never go. Remember when you are not able, God is more than able.

Someone else will go

We always think someone else is going to go. We think someone else will respond to the crisis. But when God puts a burden upon your heart, recognize it is God calling you to respond. You are God’s plan. He has blessed you to make a difference.

It is too overwhelming

There is too much. The challenges around the world are immense. The great need is overwhelming. But God doesn’t call you to do it all. He calls you to do your part. He calls you to make a difference one person at a time. That is how it works.

We don’t want to go

We don’t want to know. Does seeing the starving children on TV make you uncomfortable? You are not alone. We go on living our lives ignorant of the plight of others. We like it that way. We don’t want to see others suffering. It makes us feel guilty. So we go on living busy lives, distracted from the pain around us.

Today, we are going to give up apathy. We are going to care enough to make a difference. When Jesus came to this earth he healed the sick. He made the lame to walk. He gave the blind their sight. He cast out the demons. He offered hope to those without hope. He gave us hope! As we follow him, our Savior, we care because he cared enough for us.

The point is God has blessed you. The blessing he gives is not just to be a blessing to yourself, but to be a blessing others. In Genesis12:1–3, God told Abram he was going to bless him so that he could be a blessing to others. In 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 it says “God comforts us in our afflictions so that we can comfort others.” Do you see it? God helps you, so that you can help others.

You are part of God’s plan. It’s time to give up apathy and seize his calling. When you follow God’s leading here, it may end up being one of the most fulfilling things you have ever done.